The anticipation for the 2024 Major League Baseball playoffs has officially begun with the release of its schedule. This year's postseason promises to be particularly thrilling with several notable changes and key dates that fans and teams alike will want to mark on their calendars.
The regular season is set to conclude on Sunday, September 29, setting the stage for a month of intense October baseball. The new postseason format does away with the traditional one-game playoff, opting instead for a more comprehensive Wild Card Series to unfold from October 1. These series will be three-game face-offs with no travel involved, adding a layer of strategy as teams battle it out in back-to-back games.
Wild Card Series Details
The stakes are high in the Wild Card Series, which kicks off on Tuesday, October 1. The third division winner and the top Wild Card team in each league will host these matchups. It's a format that rewards season-long performance with home-field advantage, making every game critical. The series continues on Wednesday, October 2, with any necessary Game 3s scheduled for Thursday, October 3.
Division Series Dates
Following the Wild Card outcomes, the Division Series will start on Saturday, October 5. This phase will see the top two division winners in each league hosting Games 1, 2, and, if necessary, Game 5, adding to the home-field benefits for the season's top performers.
The National League Division Series (NLDS) Game 2 is slated for Sunday, October 6, while the American League Division Series (ALDS) Game 2 will follow on Monday, October 7. Game 3 for the NLDS will be on Tuesday, October 8, with ALDS Game 3 and potential NLDS Game 4s happening on Wednesday, October 9. ALDS Game 4 is scheduled for Thursday, October 10, and, if needed, an NLDS Game 5 will take place on Friday, October 11. The ALDS could extend to a fifth game on Saturday, October 12, if necessary.
Championship Series Outline
The road to the World Series will proceed through the League Championship Series, starting with the National League Championship Series (NLCS) on Sunday, October 13. Both the NLCS Game 2 and the ALCS Game 1 are set for Monday, October 14. As the series progress, the matchups will alternate between leagues, ensuring continuous action. ALCS Game 2 is on Tuesday, October 15, NLCS Game 3 on Wednesday, October 16, and both NLCS Game 4 and ALCS Game 3 on Thursday, October 17.
Should the series extend to additional games, potential ALCS Game 4 and NLCS Game 5 will be on Friday, October 18, with potential ALCS Game 5 on Saturday, October 19. Potentially critical NLCS Game 6 is on Sunday, October 20, with a decisive Monday, October 21, potentially hosting both ALCS Game 6 and NLCS Game 7. The ALCS, if it reaches seven games, would climax on Tuesday, October 22.
World Series Timeline
The grand finale, the World Series, is contingent on the timings of the League Championship Series. If these series conclude by Saturday, October 19, the World Series will commence on Tuesday, October 22. Otherwise, the more likely first pitch will be on Friday, October 25.
The schedule for the World Series is designed to build drama, with Game 2 following quickly on Saturday, October 26. Sunday's travel day leads into Games 3 and 4 on Monday, October 28, and Tuesday, October 29, respectively. Should the series stretch further, Game 5 could be ignited on Wednesday, October 30, with potential Games 6 and 7 planned for Friday, November 1, and Saturday, November 2. The team with the superior regular-season record will enjoy home-field advantage for Games 1, 2, and if needed, Games 6 and 7.
This meticulous schedule ensures that each phase of the playoffs is designed to maximize competitive intensity while balancing the logistics for teams and fans alike. As autumn approaches, the baseball community will prepare for a thrilling postseason showcasing the very best of Major League Baseball.